2019 Domaine Raymond Usseglio "Le Péché - Originel Sans Soufre Ajouté" Cinsault Vin de France (1.5L)

From almost 60-year-old Cinsault vines planted on a sandy site, the 2019 Vin de France Le Peche Originel Sans Soufre Ajoute was made entirely in concrete. It's an enthralling effort, boasting intricate aromas of roses, black tea, orange zest and stone fruit. Expansive on the palate, it feels light and lacy at the same time, gently pulsing with vitality on the lengthy finish. How long it lives and positively evolves will no doubt depend to some extent on how it's transported and stored, as it's unfiltered as well as unsulfured, but I would drink it now for its wonderful perfume and complex flavors. Despite the early hour of my appointment back in June 2019, this was one of my favorite visits of that trip, so it was a pleasure to taste through the lineup of bottled wines this summer. The 2018 Cuvée Imperiale is one of the top wines of the vintage, but perhaps the wine that captured my attention the most was the 2019 Le Peche Originel, a vin de France made from Cinsault. Buy some if you can find any. (JC) (9/2020)

The 2019 Vin De France Le Peche Originel is beautifully done, and to a degree reminds me of the carbonic Carignan from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Based on 100% Cinsault brought up all in concrete and bottled with no added SO2, its almost translucent ruby color is followed by a beautiful perfume of exotic red fruits, sappy spring flowers, new leather, and spice. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a light, silky, charming texture, moderate tannins, and solid length, this is just a beautifully charming, elegant red... (10/2020)